Iv./jg 54

[Rabe Anton]

Gruß Gott Leo!

I have noticed your posting concerning the reorganization of IV./JG 54 in August 1944.

I have been studying IV./JG 54 for many years but have never seen a document ordering the redesignation of the Staffeln in IV. Gruppe. Certainly there was one, and it may surface one day. Working from the NVLM for the IV. Gruppe, however, it seems
that the changeover in Staffel numbering took place at unit level at about 21-22 August 1944.

I do not have my research materials at hand just now and so cannot comment on how the redesignations were carried out. I seem to remember, however, that IV./JG 54 had four consecutively numbered Staffeln after May 1944, when the Gruppe was reorganized and rebuilt under Wolfgang Späte. The 6./JG 54 was involved in the renumbering, I believe—repeat, believe—of May 1944, a new 6. Staffel being formed in the II. Gruppe after this time. I could have this wrong, however, and the 6. Staffel may not have been redesignated until the late August renumbering. Other readers can, I'm sure, clarify this particular point.

So far as I know, 4./JG 54 was not involved in the IV. Gruppe redesignations of 1944. The situation of 2./JG 54 also had nothing to do with IV. Gruppe's reshufflings. 2. Staffel under Oblt. Hans Dortenmann went West to reinforce the III. Gruppe at the time of D-Day, stayed in the West, and ultimately was permanently incorporated into III./JG 54 (as 12./JG 54, I believe) when that Gruppe, too, was reorganized and renumbered in August 1944 (9., 10., 11., and 12./JG 54). As with 6. Staffel, a new 2. Staffel was formed within I./JG 54 in the East (Kurland, actually) to replace the unit sent West in early June.

Be very careful of existing statements about the situation of the IV./JG 54 as very little authoritative and soundly grounded writing has been published about this unit. Rosch, in particular, is dependent upon changes in Feldpostnummern which do not offer precise data about all redesignations.

RA